Art Out of Recyled Glass

Recycled Art Glass Rounds that resemble Dendritic Agate Cabochons:

Re-working soft glass 104 coe

When working hot glass, the soft glass is gathered from a crucible on a blow pipe, then blown and shaped; after shaping the hot glass is transferred to a puttee stick where it will remain until finished.  Upon transferring the blow pipe is deposited in a safe place – usually a metal can and within a few minutes the rapid cooling of the metal and glass causes the glass to pop and separate off the blow pipe – referred to as pop-offs.  When gathering the pop-offs at the end of the day, approximately 80% of the glass in the bottom of the bucket or barrel has retained a carbon deposit, which looks like a dark stain which has impregnated the glass on the area closest to the pipe.  The pieces are usually concave in shape.  Over the years we have gathered these carbonized pieces of recycled art glass with intentions of someday knowing that we would figure out something on how to recycle these unwanted pieces of glass.  We tried re-melting and blowing these pieces but the carbon left black and unwanted patterns in the glass.  With several other attempts to use this glass always came out with products and pieces of undesirable nature. Then one day when going through the pieces I discovered that these pieces of carbon appeared to look like dendrites…so I gathered up a few pieces, placing the carbon side towards my tray with intentions of encasing the carbon.  It worked!  The glass rounds or cabochons appear to have scenes and sometimes a single black dot.  The carbon itself remains stiff – sometimes causing a cavity or crevice under the cabochon where the carbon has adhered to the glass.  Pictured are a few of the different colors I prefer to use when making what I refer to be Carbon Copies or Silicated Carbon Cabs. 

–        White Opal (translucent opal white glass)

–        Sunstone Yellow (Silver Glass)

–        Clear Quartz White (clear encasing glass)

All of these are in a soft glass 104 coe series.  

I really enjoy making these recycled art glass cabochon pieces,and using them in my art made from recycled glass

    Glass artist    Sun-Toys